Research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that alcohol-related deaths have spiked by 30% over recent years, causing a daily occurrence of nearly 500 U.S. deaths by way of liver disease, car accidents, or numerous other risks. As April is Alcohol Awareness Month and with the growing rate of illness and fatalities from alcohol use disorder (AUD), wellness experts are working to address the underlying causes of this potentially fatal health challenge.
The 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reports that 29.5 million people ages 12 and older experienced AUD within the past year, including 17.4 million males age 12 and older; 12.2 million women ages 12 and older; and 3.6 million Black or African American people aged 12 and older across the United States. Further, an estimated 178,000 people die from excessive alcohol use in the U.S. each year,
“Alcohol-related problems continue to take a heavy toll on individuals, families, and communities. More than 200 disease and injury-related conditions are associated with alcohol misuse,” as reported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
The dangers of alcoholism are copious, as alcohol impairs the brain’s communication pathways, and excessive alcohol use can consequently affect the way the brain looks and functions. Ultimately, these disruptions can change behavior and mood, complicating the ability to think clearly and move with proper coordination.
The health implications of alcohol use disorder vary from moderate to severe, significantly altering the quality of one’s life. Excessive drinking over long periods or even too much on a single occasion can damage the vital organs and cause life-threatening health complications such as cancer, and affect the heart, liver, pancreas and immune system.
Cancer: The National Cancer Institute reports a “strong scientific consensus that alcohol drinking can cause several types of cancer” including esophageal cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, head and neck cancer, and colorectal cancer.
Heart: With heart challenges, one is at risk of strokes, high blood pressure, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), and cardiomyopathy (the stretching and drooping of the heart muscle).
Liver: Heavy alcohol use takes a dangerous toll on the liver, exacerbating inflammations including fibrosis, alcoholic hepatitis, or fatty liver.
Pancreas: Alcohol causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances that can eventually lead to a dangerous inflammation causing pain or swelling, and impairing its ability to make hormones or enzymes to guide proper digestion.
Immune System: Heavy drinking is prone to weakening the immune system, making the body more susceptible to contracting diseases like tuberculosis or pneumonia compared to people who do not drink much.
Finding Pathways From Addiction to Recovery
According to statistics offered by DC Health’s MyRecoveryDC program, one in 10 residents in the District suffer from AUD, amounting to twice the regional and national average.
In tandem with DC Health’s efforts, the Department of Behavioral Health “certifies a network of community-based providers to provide substance use disorder services including detoxification, residential and outpatient services based on individual need.”
While District agencies work to address addiction issues across the city, recovery advocates like Ahmar Mustikhan, are working directly with the community to combat AUD in the District.
Mustikhan is a peer recovery coach and founder of Open Mic for Anacostia, a monthly community event to address the addiction and recovery landscape in Washington, D.C.
The coach and entrepreneur emphasized how the dependence on alcohol in daily occurrences can obscure the potential dangers of excessive use.
“When you are actively drinking, you don’t [focus] concentration on anything else. You become beholden to the bottle, it becomes your master and you are just craving for that,” Mustikhan, 64, told The Informer. “I was in denial about being an alcoholic because I thought, I only drink after sunset, I don’t drink 24 hours. I thought an alcoholic is [only] someone who drinks [throughout the day] and since I only drink after sunset, I’m not an alcoholic. Although, I [actually] used to abuse alcohol.”
Falling victim to alcohol use disorder from an adolescent age, Mustikhan’s struggle to openly claim his sexuality amid an unaccepting family and culture led to his extended bout with alcoholism following him into adulthood.
He emphasized the interconnectedness of mental health, identity issues, and substance use, underscoring the importance of addressing dual diagnosis, stigma, and spreading empathy to those grappling with the disease.
“I’m in the recovery field myself, so I understand that people can have alcohol or drug use disorder, but at the same time, some of us can have some mental health issues, which is as common as other physical ailments. I don’t know why these mental health issues still carry a lot of stigma to it, but so many of us do have dual diagnosis.”
Mustikhan aims to bolster community resources and support for residents who are suffering at the hands of addiction across the District.
Held every first Friday at the Anacostia Library, the recovery advocate encourages local health leaders, policymakers, community activists, and residents to join the conversation during Open Mic for Anacostia. Through discussions, speakers and more, he said these events lessen the gaps of available resources to address AUD, and work to combat socioeconomic disparities.
“I don’t mind sharing my story because sharing helps others. Because if I don’t share, people with the same kind of challenges or issues [may] never know that it happens [to other people as well],” Mustikhan said. “We are all humans and we all have so many stories.”
